Modular display rack

ABSTRACT

A modular display system has a support base and a vertical post mounted on the support base. The post is formed with threaded bores. A plurality of bars, including short spacer bars for hanging display bins and hang bars for hanging clothes hangers, for example, are screwed into the post and they project radially from the post. Each of the bars has two threaded stems, one to screwed into the post, and the other one to be covered by a threaded puck. The display bins have corresponding bores aligned with the bores in the post and adapted to receive the threaded stems of the short spacer bars to reach through and for the puck to bolt the display bins to the spacer bars.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), of U.S.provisional application No. 60/551,686, filed Mar. 9, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention lies in the field of display systems. More specifically,the invention pertains to a merchandise display device, especially amodular display rack for displaying items of various kinds and sizes.

Instore merchandise displays as well as exhibition display systems aregenerally geared to a singular functionality. Wall racks andfreestanding racks for printed materials come in a variety of layouts,with single shelf displays, multiple shelf displays, multiple bins, andthe like. Similarly, fabric displays and clothing displays are alsoavailable in a variety of systems. The latter typically include hangerdisplays, such as hooks and hang bars with associated clothes hangers ordisplay spreaders.

The prior art is void of mixed display systems and, in particular, ofeasily configurable modular systems that allow quick and easy adaptationto a variety of display requirements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a modulardisplay rack, which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of theheretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and whichprovides for a mixed display system formed for easy userconfigurability. It is a specific object to provide a modular systemthat allows quick and easy user adaptation to any of a variety ofdisplay requirements and that allows easy adaptability to display printmaterial and fabric clothing material.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, inaccordance with the invention, a modular display system, comprising:

-   -   a support base;    -   a post mounted on and extending substantially vertically from        the support base;    -   the post having a plurality of attachment locations (e.g., with        threaded bores) defined thereon;    -   a plurality of bars (e.g., with threaded stems) including a        relatively long hang bar and a relatively short spacer bar each        formed for attachment at the respective attachment locations of        the post and radially projecting therefrom; and    -   at least one bin to be mounted to the post via one of the bars.

In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the post isrotatably and substantially centrally mounted on the support base. In apreferred embodiment, furthermore, the support base is supported on aplurality of rollers. This allows the display to be easily moved betweenlocations at the point of sale location.

In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the threadedbores are formed vertically below one another along a plurality of linessubstantially parallel to an axis of the post.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the spacer barsinclude a relatively longer, first spacer bar and a relatively shorter,second spacer bar, and the bin is mounted to the post via a plurality ofvertically aligned the first or second spacer bars. The threaded boresare formed in the post at a spacing distance corresponding to a spacingdistance between bores formed in the at least one bin.

In accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment, the bin has agiven width with a value substantially equal to a sum of a diameter ofsaid post plus two times a length of the first spacer bar.

In accordance with again an added feature of the invention, the bin is amultilevel bin formed with at least two floors for supportingmerchandise or advertising material thereon. Preferably, the bin isformed with an inclined backwall and an inclined floor, for enablingprinted matter and packaged product to be stacked in a nearly vertical,slightly inclined position.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, each of the bars(the hang bars and the spacer bars) has a first threaded stem formed ona first longitudinal end thereof configured for screwing into thethreaded bore in the post, and a second threaded stem formed on a secondlongitudinal end thereof configured for receiving thereon a threadednut.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the threaded nut is athreaded puck. The puck has a disk body with a threaded blind boreformed therein.

With the above and other objects in view there is also provided, inaccordance with the invention, a modular display system, comprising:

-   -   a support base and a vertical post mounted on the support base,        the post having a plurality of threaded bores formed therein;    -   a plurality of threaded bars selected from the group consisting        of a relatively long hang bar, a relatively shorter, first        spacer bar, and a relatively shortest, second spacer bar, each        of the threaded bars having a first threaded portion configured        for selectively screwing into the threaded bores of the post,        and a second threaded portion;    -   at least one bin to be mounted to the post via one of the        threaded bars; and    -   a plurality of threaded pucks configured to be screwed onto the        second threaded portion.

The modular display rack may have multi-level bins or trays or hangingbars in order to provide the potential for holding large amount ofproducts. The modular display rack can be mounted to a spinning centralpost supported by a rollable base. Two display racks may be connectedtogether to create a long display rack, which could include shelves asan accessory

The novel system combines the functionality and the aesthetics toprovide an eye-catching display and selling station for the products.The prior art void concerning mixed display systems has thus beenfilled, by providing the easily configurable modular system that allowsquick and easy adaptation to a variety of display requirements.Furthermore, and quite importantly, the system can be very easily set upand converted in a vast variety of configurations without any tools.Quick conversion is possible by sales staff directly at the point ofsale without a substantial amount of training.

Other features that are considered as characteristic for the inventionare set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodiedin a modular display rack, it is, nevertheless, not intended to belimited to the details shown because various modifications andstructural changes may be made therein without departing from the spiritof the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of theclaims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however,together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be bestunderstood from the following description of specific embodiments whenread in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front, top perspective view of the modular display rackaccording to the invention, in a first exemplary configuration with twosets of bins or trays and two sets of hang bars;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the first configuration of themodular display rack, which is identical to the rear side view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the first configuration of the modular displayrack;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the first configuration of the modular displayrack;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the base of the modular display rack with thevertical post;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic exploded view of a second exemplaryconfiguration of the modular display rack according to the inventionhaving three bin sets and one hang bar set;

FIG. 7 is a front, top perspective view of the second exemplaryconfiguration of the modular display rack according to the invention;

FIG. 8 is a front, top perspective view of a third exemplaryconfiguration of the modular display rack with four sets of bins ortrays;

FIG. 9 is a front, top perspective view of a fourth exemplaryconfiguration of the modular display rack having three bin sets and onemixed bin and hang bar set;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the modular display rack in the third exemplaryconfiguration;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the first (relatively longer) spacer bar, ofthe second (relatively shorter) spacer bar, and of a puck;

FIG. 12 is a partial exploded view of the third configuration of themodular display rack, illustrating an exemplary assembly process;

FIGS. 13A and 13B are top perspective views of a two-level bin or tray;and

FIGS. 14A and 14B are top perspective views of a three-level bin ortray.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first,particularly, to FIG. 6 thereof, there is seen an exploded perspectiveview of a modular display rack 100. The novel system, in summary,includes the following elements: a base 10 supported on several ballrollers, casters, or on stationary support feet. A column 20 or post 20vertically supported on the base 10. The post 20 is formed with aplurality of strategically distributed threaded bores 22, 24 forreceiving and mounting hang bars 30 or spacer bars 40. Bins 50 may beattached to the post 20 via the spacer bars 40 and attached with pucks46. The latter will be described in detail in the following.

In a first configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, the modular display rack100 includes the base 10, the central spinning post 20, two sets of hangbars 30, several sets of spacer bars 40 disposed on the central spinningpost 20, and several sets of display bins or trays 50 connected to thecentral spinning post 20 through the spacer bars 40. The top of the post20 is illustrated with an additional attachment device 23. In theillustration, it is simply a bore or recess 23 that allows the insertionof a display element 23 a. One example of the element 23 a illustratedin FIGS. 2 and 3 is a registered trademark of Luemme, Inc. (d.b.a.Cosabella), of Miami, Fla.

With reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the base 10 has four rollers 12attached at the bottom thereof. This allows the modular display rack tobe easily moved to any desired place. The rollers 12 are, for example,ball-bearing system rollers 12 or casters. If movability is not desired,the rollers or casters 12 may be replaced by rubber ball supports orrubber boots to be placed over the otherwise available rollers 12. Inthis way, the base 10, and with it the entire modular display 100, maybe rendered stationary. It will also be understood that any number ofsupports may be provided, i.e., three or five, or more, depending on thedesired support strength and balance safety.

The base 10 can have a rectangular (e.g., square) shape or a roundshape. The central post 20 is connected to the center of the base 10 insuch a manner that the post 20 can spin freely, for example, on aball-bearing system. This allows the customers to spin the modulardisplay rack 360 degrees, accessing all merchandise from one standingposition. It will be understood to those of skill in the pertinent artthat the spinning of the system may also be motorized, for example ifthe display rack 100 is placed within a viewing enclosure or behind aviewing window.

Once more with reference to FIG. 6, each of the hang bars 30 has athreaded portion 32, 34 at each end thereof. Each of the spacer bars 40has a threaded portion 42, 44 at each end thereof. The central post orcolumn 20 has a plurality of threaded bores 22 formed therein forreceiving the spacer bars 40 and a plurality of threaded bores 24 formedtherein for receiving the hang bars 30. The threaded bores, besidesbeing bored directly in the constituent post material of the post 20,may also be formed by welded-on nuts that have the threaded bore. Onethreaded portion 42 of each spacer bar 40 is screwed into one of thethreaded bores 22 of the central post or column 20, allowing the spacerbar 40 to extend horizontally from the central post or column 20. Theother threaded portion 44 of each spacer bar 40, which is not used toscrew into the post 20, is used to keep the bins or trays 50 in place bylocking the bin 50 between the spacer bar 40 and a puck 46 screwed ontothe part of the threaded portion 44 that extends beyond the bin 50.Pucks 46 are commercially available, for instance, from B&N Industries,California. One threaded portion 32 of each hang bar 30 is screwed intoone of the threaded bores 24 of the central post 20, allowing the hangbar 30 to extend horizontally from the central post or column 20. Theother threaded portion 34 of each hang bar 30 is capped by a puck 36screwed onto the threaded portion 34 of the hang bar 30. The puck 36that screws onto the end of each hang bar 30 has a slightly largerdiameter than the hang bar 30. In this case, hangers that are hung onthe hang bar 30 are prevented from sliding off the hang bar 30.

The bins 50 illustrated herein are substantially rectangular boxes witha flat backwall, and two flat sidewalls. Three compartments areprovided, each with slightly inclined floors. The inclination isprovided for the purpose of displaying printed matter and packagedproduct. Some of the printed matter and packaged product items 51 areillustrated in FIG. 3 and they are, by way of example, window packagesfor undergarments as described in our commonly assigned U.S. Design Pat.U.S. D450,578 S. In this vein it should be noted that the display binsare primarily suited for displaying the window packages, while the hangbars are primarily suited for hanging the actual merchandise, i.e.,floor samples, larger displays, posters, hang magazines, product lists,and the like.

FIGS. 7-9 illustrate modified configurations of the modular display rackaccording to the invention. The corresponding elements in theseillustrations are designated with the same reference numerals as above.

FIG. 7 illustrates a second exemplary configuration with three sets ofbins 50 and one vertical line of hang bars 30.

FIG. 8 illustrates a third exemplary configuration of the modulardisplay rack, which has four sets of bins or trays 50 and no hang bars.Two sets of the bins or trays 50 are connected to the central post 20 bytwo sets of short spacer bars 40. The other two sets of the bins ortrays 50 are connected to the central post 20 by two sets of long spacerbars 40′. In this way, the space can be more efficiently utilized. Asthe threads on the hang bars 30, the short spacers 40 and the longspacers 40′ are identical, they can be freely exchanged. It goes withoutsaying that the threaded bores on the post 20 also have equal threads.

A fourth exemplary configuration—a configuration in which most of theavailable display space is required for stand-up merchandise or printmaterial—is illustrated in FIG. 9. This configuration has three bin setsand a mixed bin and hang bar set. Here, there are provided only one hangbar 30 and a multitude of bins 50. It will be understood that the bins50 may be varied widely as well. That is, some may be three-level bins,some may be two-level bins, and some may provide for open space thatallows “tall” literature or merchandise to be placed.

With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, the post 20 has a given diameter D. Awidth W of the bins 50 exceeds the diameter D by two times a length L₁of the first spacer bar 40′. That is, W=D+2L₁. A considerable amount ofspace savings, and at the same time of compactness, is achieved with thedifference in the lengths L₁ and L₂. Here, W>D+2L₂ and, as a result, thebins that are mounted with the second spacer bars 40 are clamped by thebins that are mounted on the post with the first spacer bars 40′.Further rigidity is thus provided to the modular display. It is clearthat this situation also applies if—as is the case in a preferredconfiguration—the bins surround the post only three-ways and one side isprovided with one or more hang bars 30.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the threaded stems of the spacer bars 40 and40′ are no longer than a depth of the threaded bore in the pucks 46. Adiameter of the puck 46 is the same as the diameter of the spacer bars40 and 40′. However, a diameter of the puck 36 for the hang bar 30 isslightly greater than a diameter of the hang bar 30 to prevent itemshung on the hang bar 30 from falling off (see e.g., FIG. 2).

The display bins or trays 50 are made of plastic, such as Lucite orpolycarbonate, or the like. The display bins or trays 50 can be oftwo-level (FIG. 13) or three-level (FIG. 14) for displaying items ofdifferent sizes in the same outlined space in regards to height, width,and length. This allows for equal mixing and matching of bins or traysthat hold differently sized display products. The two-level bin isconfigured to display taller merchandise, while the three-level bin isconfigured to display smaller merchandise. The rear face 52 of the bin50 has two circular holes 54 cut through it at a distance aligned withthe vertical distance between the spacer bars 40, 40′ screwed onto thepost 20. When the bin 50 is placed correctly, the threads of the spacerbars 40, 40′ will reach through these pre-cut holes 54 and allow forenough thread to screw on the puck 46, locking the bin 50 in place.

Each level of the bins or trays 50 may have an inclined back piece 56for providing support to the items placed in the level and a bottompiece 58. The inclined back piece 56 extends from the rear face 52 ofthe bin 50 at the top of the level to the bottom piece 58 of the level(see FIG. 14) or extends from the rear face 52 at a location between thetop of the level and the bottom piece 58 of the level to the bottompiece 58 of the level (see FIG. 13). The bottom piece 58 of the level isformed with a cutout 59 to allow the seller to fix the packaged productsby pulling at the bottom of the packaging from the back, thus the topsof all the packaging fall backward and rest in the ideal displayposition. The cutout 59 may be formed only in the bottom piece 58 of thelevel (not shown) or may extend into the back piece 56 (see FIGS.13-14).

The hang bars 30 and the spacer bars 40 typically have differentdiameters. However, the threaded portions 32, 34, 42, 44 of the hangbars 30 and the spacer bars 40, 40′ have an equal diameter. Thus, a setof hang bars 30 can be replaced by a set of spacer bars 40, 40′ or viceversa. In this way, the modular display rack can be provided with one tofour sets of bins or trays 50 or one to four sets of hang bars or anycombination thereof.

The central post or column 20, the hang bars 30, and the spacer bars 40,40′ can be made of any solid material, but preferably aluminum. The base10 may also be made of any solid material, but preferably aluminum orhard, heavy plastic.

The modular display rack as shown in the figures is a stand-alonedisplay. It measures approximately 57″ in height, by 19″ in width, by19″ in length when fully assembled in set-up position.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled inthe art from consideration of the specification and practice of theinvention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification andexamples be considered as exemplary only.

1. A modular display system, comprising: a support base; a post mountedon and extending substantially vertically from said support base; saidpost having a plurality of attachment locations defined thereon; aplurality of bars including a relatively long hang bar and a relativelyshort spacer bar each formed for attachment at a respective one of saidattachment locations and radially projecting therefrom; and at least onebin to be mounted to said post via one of said bars.
 2. The modulardisplay system according to claim 1, wherein said post is formed with athreaded bore at each of said attachment location and each of said barshaving a threaded stem formed thereon for screwing into a respectivesaid threaded bore of said post.
 3. The modular display system accordingto claim 1, wherein said post is rotatably and substantially centrallymounted on said support base.
 4. The modular display system according toclaim 1, wherein said attachment locations are defined vertically belowone another along a plurality of lines substantially parallel to an axisof said post.
 5. The modular display system according to claim 1, whichfurther comprises a plurality of roller supports on a bottom of saidsupport base.
 6. The modular display system according to claim 2,wherein said spacer bars include a relatively longer, first spacer barand a relatively shorter, second spacer bar, and said bin is mounted tosaid post via a plurality of vertically aligned said first or secondspacer bars, and said threaded bores are formed in said post at aspacing corresponding to a spacing between bores formed in said at leastone bin.
 7. The modular display system according to claim 6, whereinsaid bin has a given width with a value substantially equal to a sum ofa diameter of said post plus two times a length of said first spacerbar.
 8. The modular display system according to claim 1, wherein saidbin is a multilevel bin formed with at least two floors for supportingmerchandise or advertising material thereon.
 9. The modular displaysystem according to claim 1, wherein said bin is formed with an inclinedbackwall and an inclined floor, for enabling printed matter and packagedproduct to be stacked in a nearly vertical, slightly inclined position.10. The modular display system according to claim 1, wherein each ofsaid bars has a first threaded stem formed on a first longitudinal endthereof configured for screwing into a respective threaded bore formedin said post, and a second threaded stem formed on a second longitudinalend thereof configured for receiving thereon a threaded nut.
 11. Themodular display system according to claim 10, wherein said threaded nutis a threaded puck, defined with a disk body having a threaded blindbore formed therein.
 12. A modular display system, comprising: a supportbase; a vertical post mounted on said support base and having aplurality of threaded bores formed therein; a plurality of threaded barsselected from the group consisting of a relatively long hang bar, arelatively shorter, first spacer bar, and a relatively shortest, secondspacer bar, each of said threaded bars having a first threaded portionconfigured for selectively screwing into said threaded bores of saidpost, and a second threaded portion; at least one bin to be mounted tosaid post via one of said threaded bars; and a plurality of threadedpucks configured to be screwed onto said second threaded portion.